This book examines Modern Iran through an interdisciplinary analysis of its cultural norms
history and institutional environment. The goal is to underline strengths and weaknesses of
Iranian society as a whole and to illustrate less prescriptive explanations for the way Iran
is seen through a lens of persistent collective conduct rather than erratic historical
occurrences. Throughout its history Iran has been subject to many studies all of which have
diagnosed the country's problem and prescribed solutions based on certain theoretical grounds.
This book intends to look inward seeking cultural explanations for Iran's perpetual inability
to improve its society. The theme in this book is based on the eloquent words of Nasir Khusrau
a great Iranian poet: az mast ki bar mast. The words are from a poem describing a self-adoring
eagle that sees its life abruptly ended by an arrow winged with its own feathers-the bird is
doomed by its own vanity. The closest interpretation ofthis idiom in Western Christian culture
is you reap what you sow which conveys a similar message that underlines one's responsibility
in the sense that sooner or later we must face the choices we make. This would enable us to
confront - and live up to - what Iran's history and culture have taught us.
